Donguibogam's view of the liver as the 'general official' is a compelling metaphor from a modern medical perspective as well. The liver is one of the largest organs in our body, performing more than 500 biochemical reactions and handling essential functions for sustaining life, such as detoxification, metabolism, and immunity. In particular, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is a liver disorder that has surged recently among modern people, referring to a condition where fat accumulates excessively in the liver regardless of alcohol intake, just as the name suggests. It is diagnosed when fat accounts for 5% or more of the weight of the liver.
Because this fatty liver often presents without notable symptoms at first, it is called a silent killer. However, if fat accumulation worsens, it can progress to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), where inflammation develops in hepatocytes. This condition can ultimately lead to liver fibrosis, liver cirrhosis, and even liver cancer. The chronic fatigue and dyspepsia you feel may be warning signals sent by your liver.
The rise of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease among modern people is deeply related to Westernized dietary habits involving excessive carbohydrate and processed food intake, lack of exercise, obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and hyperlipidemia, as part of metabolic syndrome. In particular, excessive carbohydrate intake promotes fat synthesis in the liver and causes insulin resistance, leading more fat to accumulate in the liver. What Donguibogam calls dampness-phlegm can be understood in modern medicine as excessive fat accumulation caused by insulin resistance.
Furthermore, the impact of stress and difficulties with emotional regulation on liver health cannot be ignored. Chronic stress increases the secretion of stress hormones like cortisol, which elevates blood glucose and worsens insulin resistance, potentially triggering or aggravating fatty liver. Stress also disrupts the autonomic nervous system and lowers digestive function. Fatigue is closely related to energy metabolism imbalance caused by liver hypofunction, decreased toxin detoxification capacity, and inflammatory responses. Dyspepsia may occur because bile secreted by the liver is essential for fat digestion, but fatty liver reduces bile production and excretion. Therefore, do not take these signals lightly. Your liver needs your attention and care right now.
